The Hermitage at St. Anne's

The Hermitage at St. Anne's
a place of quiet retreat

Be still and know that I am God.
These words from Psalm 46 set the tone for the Diocese of Maryland's Hermitage at St. Anne's, a place for self-directed, often silent retreats, a place where clergy, layleaders and all who are seeking time apart to deepen their relationship with God can go on their own time - for themselves.

The Hermitage at St. Anne's is a mission of St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Smithsburg, MD. Located in rural Washington County near Hagerstown, the Hermitage is a respite from the day to day demands of life.

The primary ministry of the Hermitage is to welcome guests who wish to make individual self-directed retreats. Guest rooms are available for overnight stays so that you can rest, pray, worship and explore more intentionally the spiritual dimension of your life. At the Hermitage, you enter into a time of prayer and reflection, rest and renewal. The time you spend here can help deepen your sense of communion with God and with others.

The guesthouse is staffed by Elizabeth Webster, a retired Episcopal priest and vowed solitary religious, who is in residence. Elizabeth lives a life of prayer, work and hospitality in the Benedictine tradition as she manages the scheduling of retreats, welcomes and sees to the needs of the guests, prepares the meals and cares for the house.

Central to each day at the Hermitage is the "work" of prayer. Two services of The Divine Office, Matins and Vespers and the offering of the Holy Eucharist, when possible, are both acts of praise to God and an intercession for the needs of the world. Equally central to the day is the atmosphere of silence. There is no sense of obligation or constraint in that silence but a simply the desire to facilitate a growing awareness of the abiding presence of God. Guests are welcome to attend and participate in any of the services.

There are three guest bedrooms with a shared bath, a large common room/library, dining room, kitchen and a chapel.
A fourth bedroom/parlor is planned.

Elizabeth+ is often asked "What exactly is a 'Solitary Religious'?" She answers, "The "Solitary Religious" hears that call to come away - to seek God more intentionally and responds by committing his/her self to live that each day. However, although the call may be the same, the way in which each Solitary lives out that life, that seeking, is distinctive...read more

People also ask what a retreat is like. She says, a retreat is a time to “seek God” in silence and in prayer. Read more of her meditation here.